THE RARITY of seeing all five of the Isle of Wight's mainland league teams win was achieved at the weekend.
Talented Ventnor all-rounder Henry Bartlett was the star in the Island's Southern Premier League Division 1 win over top of the table Andover, at Steephill, on Saturday.
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Before the game started, players from both sides stood to honour the memory of Ventnor cricketer Tommy Barton, who died last week.
A fine all-round display from Bartlett proved decisive in an entertaining 12-run victory for Ventnor — their third on the trot.
The visitors invited the home side to bat first after winning the toss, and when the dismissals of leading run makers, Tom Friend and Dineth Thimodya, saw Ventnor slip to 18-2 — and then 133-5 — Andover were on top.
But an outstanding knock from Bartlett turned the tide as the right-hander struck 13 fours and four sixes in his 123.
Bartlett was well supported by Ben Attrill (38), as they added 102 for the sixth wicket.
Other players chipped in to help Ventnor post a challenging 299 from their 50 overs.
After Hugh Calloway (2-52) had taken two early wickets, Andover batted well, reaching 190-4 (Ben Attrill 2-33) with 14 overs remaining.
The introduction of Bartlett into the attack, with a key spell of 3-51 from his ten overs, ensured an exciting climax.
In tandem with some excellent catching, sharp fielding and two wickets from Chris Russell (2-29), the hosts dismissed previously unbeaten Andover for 287 in the final over.
Ryde notched up their first win of the season in Hampshire 1, beating Winton by 108 runs at Harding Shute.
Ben Gregory had a good all-round match — top scoring with 53, then taking 2-31 as Ryde (238 all out) beat Winton (130 all out) by 108, with Tom Durman taking 3-15.
In Hampshire 3 (South), Matt Lambourne was Shanklin and Godshill's top performer in their 31-run win away at Southampton Community.
In a low scoring game, the Islanders posted a modest 181 all out with Lambourne top scoring with 34 and getting 2-25.
The hosts had no answer to Shanklin's bowling attack, skittled out for 150, with Ross Le Sueur (3-30) and Benji White (3-32) the pick of the bowlers.
Ventnor II continued their whirlwind start to the Hampshire 4 (South) campaign with an emphatic 209-run win over Hythe & Dibden II.
Rob Snell, a first team regular last season, smashed 171 not out.
The left-hander's innings comprised 24 boundaries and three sixes, in a superb partnership with Neil Westhorpe (80 not out), who guided the total to a daunting 322-2.
The home team never recovered from a poor start as Sam Read (3-31) and slow left-armer, Jack Powell (4-11), helped bowl out the riverside club for just 113.
Ryde II notched up their first win of the season, at Emsworth II.
Ellis Ridett top scored with 59 not out as Ryde chased down an easily reachable 135-9, winning by six wickets.
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